Roundabout



- 1,583,287 J. 'A. FISHER ROUNDABOUTI May 4', 1926.

Original Filed March l6. 1922 sheets sheet 1 i1" 0 I ll I 4 A E ll I 16 I n I I 4 :8 11 f 1 I I I v I I 22 v 0 I 21 I l I. I A "v L J .1 10 g l W 19 v 7 E I: :r

9 5 14 7 i 6 I 8 2 I 5 6 6 W ATTORNEYS.

May 4 1926.

. INVENTOR.

WIT/YES s .BY M 4%,; ma.

' ATTORNEY.

Patented May 4, 1926.

UNITED srATEs PATENT OFFICE,

J HN A. rrsnnn, or:- SANDUSKY, onto.

BOUNDABOUT.

Application filed larch 18, 1922, Serial Noi 544,134. Renewed May 27, 1925.

' characterized by an annular, undulating track traversed by a passenger car mounted on an arm rotating on an axis coincident with the axis of the track.

More particularly the invention is characterized by-imparting to the car an additional movement independent of its travel relative to the track.

In the embodiment of my invention which 1 I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, means are provided for imparting to the car, inaddition to its normal movement along the track, a turning movement.

This turning movement may be caused by the fact that the weight of the loaded car is eccentric t'o axis of the cars rotation.

However I preferably provide means whereby said turning movement of the car may be voluntarily imparted by an occupant, or the automatically imparted movement of-the car may be augmented, retarded or resisted by the occupant.

Means are provided for automatically limiting the turning movement of the car to prevent spinning, and I also preferably provide resilient means for cushioning the turning movement of the car and for automatically returning it to its normal position when at rest. 3

Means are also provided for cushioning the car on its support to prevent sudden jars and thus rendering riding more comfortable and safe. i

Other novel features of construction and arrangement of parts will appear from the following description. In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a general view in perspective of arotary amusement device in which are embodied in practical form the principles of my invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic section of the same; Fig. 3 is an end view of one of the rotary arms showing a passen er car mounted thereon, and Fig. 4 1s a 3) an view of the same. Fig. 5 is an.enlarge detail showing one of the depending yokesthere set up for temporary or may provide aplurality ofthe ea in which the wheels, which support the arms on the track, are mounted, and Fig. 6 is a broken plan VIEW of one of the armsillustrating the method of attaching the yokesto the arms. r

The following is a detailed description of the drawings.

A represents an annular track, which may.

be of any suitable construction, but which in practlceIprefer to make in portable sections so that the machine can be readily taken down, transported to a new site and use.

The track proper or tread is of an undulating character comprising alternating dips and rises of more or less abruptness.

B is a base which is located at the axis of the track and upon which 'is mounted the rotary centralv frame C. 1 is the center post of said frame which depends into and is journal'erl'in the vertical bearing 2 of the base B. 3 is a collar fixed on the post 1 and bearing on the top of the base B, said base and collar being provided with complementary raceways concentric with the post 1 and in which work the ball bearings or other anti-friction members 4. Y 1

Thus the center frame is provided with both'a vertically disposed and a horizontally disposed bearing which prevent its wobbling and strictly confine its movement to rotation on a truly. vertical axis.

The frame O is attached at its center to the upper end of the post 1 while'its perimeter is supportedby the inclined struts 5 extending down to the collar 3.

The perimeterof the frame G at two opposite points or zones is preferably formed of a nluralitv of straight chords C of equal length to which are pivotally attached, on horizontal axes, the inner ends of the car supporting arms D which I have shown disposed in two groups, of" five each, on opposite sides of the machine, thus obtaining a good balance which reduce'sthe thrusts I or lateral strains on the center frame. How-1 ever I may use two oppositely disposed arnri's e equally'spaced around the central frame.

The arms D extendslightly "beyond the tras-k A and are supported onsaid track by means of wheels 6whose axles are journaled in the'depending yokes 7 fixed on the lower ends of the stems 8 which slide vertically in suitable sockets -8 in the arms 1D. Said stems and sockets are preferably non-cylindrical, as shown in Fig. 6, to prevent the wheels from shifting so that they would not truly follow the track. To cushion, the support of the arms by the track I prefer to coil helical springs 9 about'the stems 8 between the yokes? andthe arms D.

It is evident that as the central frame rotates, the arms will travel around the track, rising and falling with the undulations of the track but having their movement free from tipping, since the arrangement 1 s such that each of the arms moves in a horizontal and in a vertical plane only. 7

To. enable the wheels 6 to maintain contact for their full width with, the track, the tread of the latter is bevelled or inclined properly throughout its extent, as indicated in the'drawings. p

On the end portion of each arm D is mounted a passenger car E. These cars may be of any desired design, but I prefer to so design the same that when loaded, their weight is eccentrically disposed as to their axis of turning movement, as wil l be more fully explained. Y

I prefer a roughly circular form of car having doorways 10 cut in its walls and .an arcuate seat 11 at what might be called the rear of the car. The opposite or front wall of the car may be developed to form a hood 12. Y

The cars E of whatever design may be selected, are so mounted on the arms D as to be capable of at least a limited, independent, and preferably turning or'oscillatory movement. Thus, I have shown a base plate 13 secured 011 the arm and supporting a turn table 14 by means of interposed'ball bearings 15, or other suitable anti-friction devices. The turn table is maintained in proper position relative to the base plate by any convenient means, such as the vertically disposed post- 16, which I term the steering shaft, and which is fixed to the arm and extends up through the turn table which latter turns about the post.

The movement of the turn table on the base is preferably limited in extent by the lug 17 depending from the turn table and moving between a pair of spaced apart stops 18 on the base plate.

The car is mounted on the turn table, the latter, if desired, forming the bottom or floor of the car, but, forthe purpose of increasing the comfort of the passengers, I prefer to.

resiliently mount the car on the turn table. Thus Ihave shown the front of the car supported on, andpreferably slightly spaced above, the turn table by the hinge 19, while the rear of the. car is supported by a spring, illu"-trate;l as an elliptical spring 20.

The movement of the car with the turn table is preferably cushioned and resiliently controlled by'a pair of helical springs 21, attached to the arm D and diverging to be attached to the under side of the car E at spaced apart points. Thus the car is automatically returned to its'normal position when the machine is stationary. v

The post lfi'extends up through the floor of the car butis unattached to the same. The upper end of the post is provided with a fixed hand wheel 22, which I term a steering wheel. An occupant of the car by grasping said wheel is able to either resist or augment the turning movement of the car.

Rotary power is applied to. the central frame C by any convenient means, not shown, so that when the amusement device is in operation the central frame and with it the radially disposed arms, ma be rotated at will, and stopped and starte It is evident that as the machine is operated, the arms will travel around the annular, undulating track, rising and falling in response to the rises and dips in the track, butthat there will be no unlimited tipping or tilting of the passenger cars as they are so mounted as to be incapable of such dangerous movements. relatively very abrupt changes in track level without danger of throwing the passengers from the cars or tossing them about with too great yiolence.

As a car descends a dip, the loaded side of the car, where the passengers are seated, will tend to swing around to the front, and, on the other hand, as the car ascends. a rise in the track, the loaded side of the carwill tend to swing toward the rear, the movement of the car being limited by the stops to prevent spinning and cushioned by the helical springs to prevent jolts and jars, which springs also brmg the car to rest- 1n 1ts nor-n mal position with the doorway at the proper position to permit the passengers to embark and disembark at the loading platform.

By grasping the steering wheel "a passenger may resist, retard or augment the automaticmovement of the car. Again the car may be arranged to be moved independently of the arm by the steering wheel only, as, for instance, as when the undulations of the track are not abrupt enough and the speed of the car around the track too slow Thus I am able to use 1 7 to automatically swing the car on its pivot. I

Although, for the sake of .clearness, I have described in detail the embodiment of the principles of my invention shown in the drawings, I do not wish to limit myself thereby, but claim broadly 1. In an amusement device of thecharacter described, the combination of an annular undulating track, an arm disposed radially of said track, said arm being rotatably mounted on a vertical axis concentrically of the track so asto travel around the latter and said am being also pivotally' mounted on a horizontal axis so asto follow amass? the undulations of the track, and a passenger car mounted directly on said arm and arranged to turn on the outer end of said arm, said car bein provided with passen er accommodations w iich are so arranged tfiat when the car is occupied the center of gravity of the car is rendered eccentric to its axis of turning whereby the travel of the arm around the undulatin track will cause the car to swing about its axis relative to the arm.

2. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of anannular undulating tracli, an arm disposed radially of said track, said arm being rotatably mounted on a vertical axis concentrically of the track so as to travel around the latter and said arm being also pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis so as to follow the undulations of the track, a 'pas senger car carried on said arm and pivotally mounted on a substantially vertical axis on said'arm so as to be capable of oscillation relative to the arm, and means for limiting the oscillatory movement of said car relative to its axis. i

3. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of an annular undulating track, an 'arm disposed radially of said track, said arm being rotatably mounted on a vertical axis concentrically of said track so as to travelaround the latter and said arm being also pivotally mounted on a horizontal axisso as to follow the undulations of the track, a pas senger car carried on said arm and mounted on a substantially vertical axis on said arm so as to be capable of oscillation relative to the arm, and resilient means for cushioning the oscillations of said car relative to its axis.

4. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of an annular undulating track, an arm disposed radially of said track, said arm being rotatably' mounted on a vertical axis concentrically'of the track so as to travel around the latter and said arm being also pivotally mounted on a'horizontal axis so. as to follow the undulations of the track, a passenger car carried on said arm and pivotally mounted on a substantially vertical axis on said arm so as to be capable of oscillation relative to said arm, means for limiting the oscillations of said car relative to its axis, and resilient means for cushioning said oscillations.

5. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of an annular undulating track, an arm disposed radially of said track, said arm. being rotatably mounted on a vertical axis concentrically of the track so as to travel around the latter and said arm being also pivotally V mounted on a horizontal axis so as to follow the undulations of the track, a pivot postmounted on the outer end of said arm, and

a passenger car mounted on saidarm and arranged to turn with said pivot 0st as a center of movement so as to oscil ate relat1ve to said arm.

6. In an amusement device of the charaeter described, the combination of an annular undulating track, an arm disposed radially of said track, said arm being r0- tatably mounted on a vertical axis concentrically'of the track so as to travel around the latter and said arm being also pivotally mountedon a horizontal axis so as to follow the undulations ofth track, means 'for driving said arm around the track, a pivot post,

mounted on the outer end of said am, a

passenger car :mounted on said arm and arranged to turn with said pivot post as a center of movement so as to oscillate relative to said arm, and means for limiting the movement of -the car relative to its axis.

7 In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of an vannular undulating track, an arm disposed radially ofsaid track, said arm-being rotatably mounted on a vertical axis concentrically of thetrack so as to travel around the latter and said arm being also pivotally mounted on a horizontalaxis so as to follow the undulations of the track, a vertically disposed pivot post mounted on' the outer end of said track, said arm being rotatablvmounted on a vertical axis concentrically of the track soas to travel around the latter and said arm being also pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis so as to follow the undulations of the track, a verticallj disposed pivot post mounted on the outer end of said arm, a passenger car mounted on said arm and arranged to turn with said post as a center of movement so as to oscillate relative to said arm. means for limiting the oscillas tions of said car relative to its axis, and 1esilient means for cushioning said oscillations. Y

9. In an amusement device of the charac ter described, the combination of an annular undulating track, an arm disposed radially of said track, said arm being rotatably mounted on a vertical axis concentrically of the track so as to travel around the latter and said arm being also pi otally mounted on a horizontal axis so as to follow the undulations of the track, a vertically disposed pivot 0st on the outer end of said arm, a. car pivotally a mounted on said arm with said post as a.

center of movement so as to oscillate relative .to said .arm, and means whereby the 0ccupant of the car may move the same lelative to its axis by grasping said post.

- 10. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of an annular undulating track, an arm disposed radially of said track, said arm being rotatably mounted on a vertical axis concentrically of the track so as to on the outer end of said arm, and a passenger car mountedon said arm and arranged to turn with said post as a center of move ment so as to be capable of oscillation relative to said arm, said car being provided with passenger accommodations which are so arranged that when the car is occupied the center of gravity of the car is rendered eccentric to its axis of turning whereby the travel of the arm around the undulating track will cause the car to oscillate on its axis relative to the arm. v

11, In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of an annular undulating track, an arm disposed radially of said track, said arm being rotatably mounted on a vertical axis concentrically of the track so as to travel around the latter and said arm bein also pivotally mounted on a.horizontal axis so -as-to follow the undulations of the track, a vertically disposed pivot post on the outer end of said arm, apassenger. car mounted on said arm and arranged to turn with said post as a 7 center of movement so as to be capable of oscillation relative to its axis, said car being provided with passenger accommoda tions which are so arranged that when the car is occupied the center of gravity of the car is rendered eccentric to its axis of turning whereby the travel of the arm around the undulating track will cause the car to swing on its axis relative to the arm, and means for limiting the movement of the car relative to its axis.

12. Inan amusement device of the character described, the combination of an annular undulating track, an arm disposed radially of said track, said arm being rotatably mounted on a vertical axis concentric ally of the track so as to travel around the latter and said arm being also pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis so as to follow the undulations of the track, a vertically disposed pivot post mounted on the outer end of said arm, a passenger car mounted on said arm and arranged to turn with said post as a center of movement so as tobe capable of oscillation relative to its axis, said car being provided with passenger accommodations which are so arranged that when said car is occupied the center of gravity of the car is rendered eccentric to its,axis of turning whereby the travel of the arm around the undulating track will cause the car to oscillate on its axisrelative to the arm, and resilient means for cushioning the oscillations of the car.

13. In an amusement device of the character described, the-.con'ibination of-an annular undulating track, an arm disposed radially of said track, saidarm being rotatably mounted on a vertical axis concentrically of the track so as totravel around the latter and said arm being also pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis so as to follow the undulations of the track, a vertically disposed pivot post mounted on the outer end of said arm, a passenger car mounted on said arm and arranged to turn with said post as a of the car, and resilient means for cushioning said movement.

14. In an amusement device oi. the character described, the combination of an annular undulating track, an arm disposed radially of said track, said arm being rotatably mounted on a vertical axis concentrically of said track so as to travel around the latter andsaid arm being also pivoially mounted on ahorizo-ntal axis so as to follow the undulations of the track, a passenger car pivotally mounted on a substantially vertical axis on the outer endofsaid arm so as to be capable of oscillation relative to said arm, and stationary means adapted to be grasped by the occupant whereby the occupant of the car can cause said car to move relative to its axis.

Signed at Sa'nduskyyOhio, this 24th day of Feby. 1922.

JOHN A. FISHER. 

